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In the News

The College of Community and Public Affairs prepares undergraduate and graduate students to work with individuals, groups, families, communities and organizations for the public good, focusing specifically on social services, local government, non-profit organizations and higher education.

Within the College

The Office of Career and International Programs offers focused career advice beginning freshman year including internship preparation, networking, resume and cover letter building, guest speakers and panel discussions with alumni and industry professionals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I get started with internship?

A: The first step to getting started with the internship is to meet with the Internship
Coordinator as early as possible. There are mandatory internship workshops each Spring
and Fall. Pay attention to announcements and be sure to attend a workshop. Students
should also carefully review the information presented in this website. Print out
the checklist for guidance.

Q: Why can't students directly register for PAFF 594 or 595 on their own?

A: PAFF 594 and 595 require instructor permission for registration. Student must consult
with the Internship Coordinator to register for PAFF 594 (Internship) and/or the Capstone
Instructor to register for PAFF 595 (Capstone) to determine readiness for participation.

Q: What types of work are students expected to do during their internships?

A: As a professional-in-training, an intern is expected to work on managerial/administrative
activities. These might include developing programs, evaluation strategies, budgets,
and/or new procedures. Obviously, since the student is not a professional employee
of the organization, s/he works closely with the supervisor on all projects. The intern
should not engage in direct services to clients, transporting others, perform office
duties (to a great extent), and/or manual labor.

Q: I currently work full-time and do not have time to complete a 300-hour internship
in addition to my job, so how do I meet that requirement?

A: Students are often able to complete the internship requirement during their normal
working hours at their place of employment. In some cases, if students have significant
administrative experience (at least three years) in a variety of fundamental administrative
areas, the internship requirement may be waived at the department's discretion. You
should meet with the Internship Coordinator to discuss your particular situation.

Q: What is the difference between a master's thesis and Capstone project?

A: The primary difference between the two is that a Capstone is an applied research
project. That means it focuses on a specific problem facing an organization. The goal
of the Capstone is to conduct a critical analysis that will generate actionable recommendations
for the organization. A master's thesis, in contrast, focuses more on the development
of new knowledge in an individual's field of study through research. Please see the
Capstone Workshop presentation, available on the MPA website, for more information.

Q: What happens if my site supervisor leaves the organization during my internship
or capstone?

A: First, do not panic! Once you are informed that s/he is leaving, work with your
current supervisor to identify a suitable replacement. You may not be able to wait
until the position is filled again, as that often takes considerable time. Once a
new supervisor is identified, have a three-way meeting with both your current and
new supervisors to ensure continuity. Provide copies of all past paperwork, products,
and important information to the new person. Try to include this new person in all
activities, or at least keep him/her informed until the switch takes place. If the
change is sudden, work with the administrator at the next higher level to identify
an appropriate supervisor and proceed as described above. Be sure to notify your supervising
professor in the MPA program immediately.

Q: How can I ensure that the organization stays interested in my work if there is
a one or two semester break between my internship and capstone project class?

A: Maintaining that relationship is critical to achieve the cooperation that will
lead to the successful completion of your capstone project. Be sure to communicate
with your site supervisor at least once a month to stay up to date on the current
focus of the organization and to discuss your capstone topic. On a very practical
level, it is important to keep in mind that priorities can shift quickly as organizations
respond to current issues and challenges. You may also need to modify your topic to
accommodate a more pressing organizational concern. Remember that your internship
and capstone project should provide mutual growth and benefit to both you and the
cooperating organization.

Q: I have completed the 300 hours of my internship. What requirements do I need to
have on file to get a grade of satisfactory?

A: Type and submit a 3-4 page memo (single-spaced) giving a summary of your internship,
along with the Final Intern Evaluation Form, from the Site Supervisor.

Q: Do I have to get any University approvals before collecting data for my site supervisor?

A: It depends on what you are gathering and from whom. If you are collecting information
from clients, employees or other human subjects and you expect to use the data for
your Capstone Project, then you will need to seek approval from the Binghamton University
Human subjects Review Committee. You will need to contact the Internship Coordinator
first, as she will be the supervising faculty member for the project.

Find what you’re looking for

In the News

The College of Community and Public Affairs prepares undergraduate and graduate students to work with individuals, groups, families, communities and organizations for the public good, focusing specifically on social services, local government, non-profit organizations and higher education.

Within the College

The Office of Career and International Programs offers focused career advice beginning freshman year including internship preparation, networking, resume and cover letter building, guest speakers and panel discussions with alumni and industry professionals.